Best Folding 3" Pocket Knife

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Invancible

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May 18, 2013
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I am about to start college next year and have been looking for a good folding pocket knife to carry around on most days.

Here's what I'm looking for as far as specs are concerned.
About a 3" blade, it can be no longer than 3 1/2"
Non-Assisted blade opening
dual thumb studs
pocket clip, I don't really care if its reversible or not
straight edge, no partially-serrated
no tanto blades
I'm not a big fan of spyderco, i just really dont like the look of their knives

Other than that I'm up for anything so please let me know of a few good knives out there. I dont really want to spend more than $100 as this is my first knife, and obviously I dont really know what I'm looking for.
 
Given your parameters, the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian (Model 556) would be my choice.
 
Agree with this recommendation. And the kicker is that the mini-Grip is one knife that can be customized; when you are ready you can buy custom scales (handles). I would think about a Ritter mini-grip. A survival expert named Doug Ritter has a deal with Benchmade to provide custom bladed minis with a high end steel (S30VN) and a nicer (to my eye) blade shape. His knifes are available on Knifeworks. Those can also be customized further down the line if you want. They run $120 or so.

bld522 said:
Given your parameters, the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian (Model 556) would be my choice.
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I'd have to agree as well. The mini-grip is the first blade that came to mind based on what you are looking for. And as for the clip, you can move it if you want to. I know you said that it wasn't reversible, but you can move it. And the blade length is just under 3 inches.
 
I like you never cared for spyderco until I gave them a chance and I tell you I never regretted . My first dhoice I will have to agree with every one so for mini grip but if you decided to give spyderco a chance the sage 1 will be my choice over the mini grip .
 
miltmaldo said:
I like you never cared for spyderco until I gave them a chance and I tell you I never regretted . My first dhoice I will have to agree with every one so for mini grip but if you decided to give spyderco a chance the sage 1 will be my choice over the mini grip .
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I am a griptilian fan. But it doesn t compare to the sage 1 in fit and finish or materials. Both are good knives for the prices. The sage 1 is a level higher.
 
You can't go wrong with the mini grip, as said above. However, you did not specify if you wanted a lock or not. You can get a classy single or multiblade traditional under 100$.
 
miltmaldo said:
I like you never cared for spyderco until I gave them a chance and I tell you I never regretted . My first dhoice I will have to agree with every one so for mini grip but if you decided to give spyderco a chance the sage 1 will be my choice over the mini grip .
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Same here, the mini grip is your best choice, but DO NOT discount the Spyderco Sage 1. In almost every respect the Sage 1 equals or beats the mini-grip (just my opinion). If you don't like the aesthetics of the Spyderco, I was the same way at first, learn to look past that because the 3 F's (fit, form & function) of Spyderco are almost 2nd to none.

You can't go wrong with either knife, hell I have 3 mini-grips, but you will end up with an amazing knife if you take a chance and choose the Sage 1.
 
I would go with a sog spec elite mini arc actuator lock 2.5ish blade straight vg10 steel runs about 80 bucks on amazon the lowest I have found I'd 73 but amazon is reliable I'd pay the extra 7 bucks
 
My honest opinion?
Ka-Bar Dozier. You can get it in black with a silver blade, pink with a silver blade, foliage green with a black blade, coyote tan with a black blade, orange with a black blade, or toxic green with a black blade. Around $20, AUS-8 steel, 3in. blade, FRN handle, solid little knife and perfect for regular every day carry. Also, it won't break the bank if you lose it or it gets swiped on campus.

Other than that, the Mini Grip would be an awesome choice.
 
whp said:
I am a griptilian fan. But it doesn t compare to the sage 1 in fit and finish or materials. Both are good knives for the prices. The sage 1 is a level higher.
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++1...I was in the same situation as you 3 yrs. ago and had the exact same criteria for a knife around $75-$100 that you describe and bought a mini-Grip in OD/black. Benchmade really knows how to HT 154CM and I like the knife very much but shortly thereafter (after reading so many glowing reviews of the Spyderco Sage 1) and overcame my dislike over the Spyderco cosmetics, wide profile, leaf blade, weird thumb ramp, and bought a Sage 1.

That knife was so perfect in ergos, F & F, lock-up, materials and just blew away everything else I had examined at similar price points that I was stunned. I rarely carry the mini-Grip now even though it's a great knife in its own right, and just recently bought a Sage 2, with a Techno due to arrive Tuesday. I still have some issue with Spyderco's general looks, although some are IMO quite beautiful, but have come to believe that Spyderco's seeming charter of function over form combined with superb F & F (especially the Taichung Taiwan facilities products), simply trumps every other production knife manufacturer currently making knives.
 
Mini Grip or 525 Presidio if you want to step and spend a little more.

I'm a huge Axis lock fan---nothing else even comes close.
 
CS Mini (not micro) Recon 1; I have the clip point. Great and economical little knife; tough as tails and sharpens up with little effort. I stripped part of the coating off my blade.
 
I'll echo what most everyone else has said, the mini grip, and particularly the ritter version is about as good as it gets for a no nonsense edc utility knife in the $100 or under range, and you can add custom scales down the road if you want to really bump the knife into the next level, but the sage 1 is a FANTASTIC knife, especially for the price, and features fit and finish normally only seen on knives costing quite a bit more.
 
Invancible said:
I am about to start college next year and have been looking for a good folding pocket knife to carry around on most days...
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Considering the bold wording above, I'm going to take a little different approach than most here and give you a very cheap alternative. Think about the Buck Vantage Select, Small. This cool little knife meets all your requirements for under $30. It is a well made-in-the-USA knife, 2 5/8" blade, 420HC, super nice deep carry clip (it disappears into your pocket). No thumb studs, but has an oblong opening hole. Flipper, not assisted. Nice appearance, very functional, well made, meets your requirements, cheap - for your needs, it seems to me to be a perfect choice.

Take a look. You can find it anywhere from $24 - $27. Great first knife. Here is a link to a youtube video worth watching:

http://youtu.be/hdxex08EddQ


Best of luck on your decision. :)
 
Get a SAK. You'll use the tools more than the blade and its totally kosher to carry in any circumstances.
 
Lots of good suggestions here. I'd add Buck's 422: nylon grip, clip, dual opening studs, 420HC steel, lightweight, and around $20.
 
expwmbat said:
Get a SAK. You'll use the tools more than the blade and its totally kosher to carry in any circumstances.
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:thumbup:

Really can't go wrong there... I've had my Fieldmaster for over 20 years and it is the one pocket knife that I have consistently used without a second thought for innumerable tasks; as a student, whether here or possibly studying abroad, you'll likely not make anyone anxious (nearly anyone) if you used it for typical day to day tasks...
 
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